§ 1020. — Publication in Federal Register of known geothermal resource area lands; necessity of geothermal leases for development or production of geothermal resources in lands which the United States transferred with reservation of mineral rights.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC1020]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 23--GEOTHERMAL STEAM AND ASSOCIATED GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
Sec. 1020. Publication in Federal Register of known geothermal
resource area lands; necessity of geothermal leases for
development or production of geothermal resources in lands which
the United States transferred with reservation of mineral rights
(a) Within one hundred and twenty days after December 24, 1970, the
Secretary shall cause to be published in the Federal Register a
determination of all lands which were included within any known
geothermal resources area on December 24, 1970. He shall likewise
publish in the Federal Register from time to time his determination of
other known geothermal resources areas specifying in each case the date
the lands were included in such area; and
(b) Geothermal resources in lands the surface of which has passed
from Federal ownership but in which the minerals have been reserved to
the United States shall not be developed or produced except under
geothermal leases made pursuant to this chapter. If the Secretary of the
Interior finds that such development is imminent, or that production
from a well heretofore drilled on such lands is imminent, he shall so
report to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General is authorized
and directed to institute an appropriate proceeding in the United States
district court of the district in which such lands are located, to quiet
the title of the United States in such resources, and if the court
determines that the reservation of minerals to the United States in the
lands involved included the geothermal resources, to enjoin their
production otherwise than under the terms of this chapter: Provided,
That upon an authoritative judicial determination that Federal mineral
reservation does not include geothermal steam and associated geothermal
resources the duties of the Secretary of the Interior to report and of
the Attorney General to institute proceedings, as hereinbefore set
forth, shall cease.
(Pub. L. 91-581, Sec. 21, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1572.)
